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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta reveals new Arsenal ambition with contract talks progressing

Mikel Arteta wants to make Arsenal the "best club in the world" as he prepares to sign a new contract.

The Spaniard's existing deal expires at the end of the season but there has never been any indication that fresh terms would not be agreed.

Arteta has repeatedly insisted that there is no rush with the situation, indicating last month that it was only a matter of time until a new contract was signed.

With the transfer window now shut and a three-week international break on the horizon, it is believed that Arteta and the club are close to reaching a full agreement.

While Arteta did not comment on how long he would like to stay at Arsenal for, he made it clear he still has lofty ambitions to achieve.

"Day by day," Arteta said.

"Obviously we have to have a mid, long-term version. That is to build to the best club in the world. That has to be without any question of doubt what we have to do.

Big plans: Mikel Arteta (Getty)
Big plans: Mikel Arteta (Getty)

"In order to achieve that, there's a lot of things you have to do daily to give you the probability to achieve that.

"Then you have to rely so much on people. First of all our owners and the fantastic motivation and ambition that they have to take this club to that point.

"Then the level of connection you build within the staff, within the players and especially our supporters to build the right environment, the right ecosystem around it. Everybody aligned with the same ambition."

Arteta arrived at Arsenal in December 2019, taking charge of the club as his first managerial job. He has overseen a remarkable transformation in the years since, taking Arsenal from a side languishing outside the Champions League to one that won a first Premier League title for 22 years.

Arteta said: "When I just joined, the only thing I was thinking was: 'What do I do today?'

"That was big enough, especially when I didn't have any experience to manage any team at any level.

"Then you take the job day by day and obviously it's been a few years now that I'm really happy and grateful for.

"Let's see what happens for the future."

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